Tianjin Zhongshuge: a stunning bookstore by X+Living nominated for the Dezeen Award 2025
Li Xiang, founder of the renowned Shanghai-based studio X+Living, once again redefines public space. Her design for the Tianjin Zhongshuge bookstore, recently shortlisted for the prestigious Dezeen Award 2025, is a project that defies simple definitions. It's an architecture where a heavy, traditional material becomes light and transparent, and the boundaries between the building and its interior are deliberately blurred.
The project is located in Tianjin's historic Italian-style district, dominated by century-old red brick buildings. The new bookstore building had not only to fit into this classical context but also replace a modern structure that stood out from its surroundings.
Craftsmanship and Patience
Red brick, a key material in classical Italian architecture, became a required element of the design. However, Li Xiang treated it not just as a building material but as a carrier of deeper meaning.
In her vision, brick connects the cultural contexts of China and Italy, pointing to a shared spirit of craftsmanship. The meticulous process of laying thousands of elements is intended to remind visitors of the value of slowing down in today's fast-paced world. "Reading is the same; only by reading and contemplating word by word can one find the stability of their own spirit," notes the studio.
The Logic of Cutting
The most striking feature of the project is the innovative treatment of the material. Inspiration came from an everyday object – blinds. The designer translated their structure and the way they separate light into individual strands onto the construction order of the bookstore.
By introducing a "cutting logic" and gaps into the dense wall structure, X+Living managed to transform the material's texture from heavy to light. This created a visual effect of interpenetration between the virtual and the real, lending the space extraordinary dynamism.
It's an artistic deconstruction of classical architectural elements that simultaneously highlights innovative thinking within the framework of traditional construction.
Spirit of the Sea and the Pursuit of Knowledge
The bookstore's interior is a journey in itself. Upon entering, guests must ascend layers of stairs that rise, widen, and deepen. This feature metaphorically represents humanity's relentless pursuit of truth. The stairs seamlessly transition into bookshelves, and their progressive form alludes to the port city's character – ships setting sail into the sea, carrying diverse thoughts.
In the center of the building, layers of deep, dark blue steel unfold. This hue was drawn from the color of the seawater in the Tianjin port. The more delicate cutting form of the steel corresponds to waves, interpreting the spirit of the sea that "embraces all rivers," symbolizing the dissemination of knowledge through books.
The Power of Combined Materials
The entire main body of Tianjin Zhongshuge is constructed solely from bricks, complemented only by steel elements. This allowed for the creation of visual tension between the warm tone of the bricks and the cool, industrial character of the steel.
Structure and materials are not hidden beneath decoration here - they themselves become the form of bookshelves, seats, and steps, creating a highly integrated design.
The innovation also lies in the scale of craftsmanship. Approximately 400,000 bricks were used in the entire project, and each brick shape was designed specifically for this bookstore. To achieve smooth, curved transitions on the shelves, bricks of varying sizes and trapezoidal shapes were designed, each requiring a separate mold and hand-cutting by artisans
As Li Xiang herself summarizes, the design:
blurs the physical boundaries of the architecture, suggesting that the boundaries of knowledge and cognition are vague, yet the spiritual core is clear and resolute.
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